Application of the analytical hierarchy process in the selection of desalination plants

Seawater desalination plants have been utilized to supply fresh water to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries since the early 1950s. In spite of the fact that there are several types of desalination technology that can be used more efficiently and economically, one type of desalination technology, namely multi-stage flash, has been used extensively in the region. This work is an attempt to identify the most suitable technology for the specific use by soliciting expert opinions. Based on several relevant factors, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was utilized to select the most appropriate technology for seawater desalination. The selection process in this study was limited to seawater feed and seven factors and four commercially available desalination technologies, i.e., multi-stage flash, multi-effect desalination, vapor compression and reverse osmosis.